Along with beautiful autumn colours, fall also brings more active wildlife on roadways across Essex County due to an increase in breeding and feeding activities.
It’s the time of year when all drivers need to be extra vigilant about animal collisions.
In Ontario, 10,000 drivers each year are involved in wildlife collisions resulting in vehicle damage, injury and even death. Across Canada, these accidents cost drivers, taxpayers and insurance companies approximately $500,000,000.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid wildlife collisions:
- Be alert at dusk and dawn when wildlife is more active.
- Use your high beam headlights if safe to do so.
- Obey the speed limit, wear seat belts and always drive only when well rested and alert.
- Pay particular attention on roads posted with deer crossing signs and all rural areas.
- Ask your passenger to be on alert for wildlife.
- If you see a deer, there may be more as they travel in groups.
- Turn on your four-way flashers to alert other drivers about potential danger.
- If you spot an animal on the road, slow down and blow your horn to frighten it away.
- Try to avoid swerving if you think you're going to make contact. Stay calm and break as hard as safe to do so.
- Injured wildlife can be frightened and dangerous. Never approach an injured animal: Call the police and try to stay clear.
Please share these tips with young or inexperienced drivers and please drive aware this fall.